Clothes-line stretcher.



M. C AHILL. CLOTHES LINE STRETCHER. APPLICATION'HLED OCT. 31, I914.

Patented Apr.20,1915.

Inventor Attorneys MORTIMER OAHILL, or OKLAHOMA, OKLAH A. IVIOREY, or OKLA OIVIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO HARRY CLOTHES-LINE STRETOHER.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, MORTIMER GAHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oklahoma city, in the county of Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma, have invented anew and useful Clothes-Line Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to clothes lines and aims to provide a novel and improved stretching device therefor.

It is the object of the present invention to provide unique means for stretching and holding the clothes line.-

It is also within the spirit of the present invention, to provide a stretching mechanism, which will be comparatively simple, convenient, practical and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

he invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved stretcher, as in use, portions of the line being broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail of the stretching mechanism or device, this view being taken on the section line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a wire clothes line proper 1, and a stretching mechanism 2, for rendering the clothes line taut.

The clothes line 1, which is constructed of a wire strand, is doubled to provide the associated or complementing draft or clamping strands 3, having a loop i at one end adapted to be inserted over the upper end of a post 5, or adapted to be engaged to any suitable supporting member. Mounted upon the draft or clamping strands 3, is a plurality of washers or buttons 6, which are slidable thereon, and which are arranged to clamp the strands 3 against those portions of the clothes or garments inserted between the said strands, as suggested in Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 31, 1914.

sides of the shank or Patented Apr. 2U, 1.915. Serial No. 369,815.

1. Any number of the washers or buttons 6 may be provided, in order that they may be readily slid to various points of the line, for clamping the clothes to the line, it being apparent that the clothes may be readily inserted between the clamping strands 3 when the washers or buttons 6 are separated sufficiently.

The stretching mechanism 2 embodies the shank or body 7, preferably in the form of a casing, having a fork 8 at one end, the arms of the fork being offset away from each other in the plane of the shank or body The shank or body 7 is provided with means for anchoring or attaching the end portions of the clamping strands 3 thereto, and to this end, the shank 7 is provided with along each edge, the lugs 9 having head or flanges 10 at their free lug 9 and its head or flange, one side, the alternate lugs of each series, being flattened at the opposite body 7. The shank or body 7 is disposed horizontally, so that the flattened portions of" the alternate lugs are disposed downwardly and'upwardly respectively. To anchor or attach the end portions of the clamping strands 3 to the stretching mechanism, the end portions of the said strands are passed back and forth over the rounded surfaces of the lugs 9 of the two series, from the outer to the inner lugs, and the terminal portions of the said strands are then bent back and passed over the flat sides of the lugs, whereby the terminal or end portions of the clamping strands will be efi ectively anchored or attached to the stretching mechanism.

The stretching mechanism is provided with means for attachment to a post or other supporting member and for stretching the line, and to this end, the terminals of the branches or arms of the fork 8 are formed with eyes or bearings 11 through which a shaft or spindle 12 is journaled. The shaft 12 is provided at one end with a ratchet wheel 13 bearing against the outer side or face of one eye or bearing 11, a pawl or dog 14 being pivoted to the respective arm of the fork 8 to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 13 for preventing the retrograde movement of the shaft 12 unless the pawl or dog is released. The end of the shaft having the ratchet wheel 13, is squared centrally through the shaft 12.

or formed, as at 15, for the engagement of a suitable handle or crank 16 for rotating the shaft.

The shaft 12 is preferably provided with a key or lug 17 engaging the inner side or face of that eye or bearing 11 adjoining the ratchet wheel 13, the said eye or bearing 11 being provided with a notch 18 for the passage of the key or lug 17, when the shaft 12 is rotated to a predetermined position, whereby the shaft may be readily applied to and detached from the fork 8. Ordinarily, the lug 17 engaging the respective eye 11, will prevent the shaft from being accidentally detached.

In order to attach the stretching meehanism to a post or other structure a flexible element 19, such as a cord, wire, or the like, is arranged to be looped over a post, or other supporting member 20, has its terminals or ends inserted through an opening 21 formed That portion of the shaft 12 between the eyes or bearings 11 forms the reel, upon which the sections of the flexible loop 19 are arranged to be wound. It is to be understood that the clothes line or wire 1 is constructed of relatively stiff or rigid material, although the same has a sufficient degree of flexibility for the purposes, while the loop 19 is constructed of relatively flexible material, which -will not become broken or fractured upon its being wound and unwound upon the shaft or reel.

In practice, when the component parts of the apparatus have been assembled, as above indicated, the clamping or draft strands 3 being of suflicient length for the purposes, the loops 4 and 19 at the remote ends of the line are engaged over the upper ends of the posts 5 and 20, respectively, or are engaged to any other suitable supporting members. Then, when the line is in slackened condition, the clothes may be readily inserted or engaged between the clamping strands 3, in order that the several clamping washers or buttons 6 may he slid toward those portions of the clothes engaged by the clamping strands, to clamp the said strands against the said portion of the clothes. Then, by rotating the shaft 12 in the proper direction, clockwise as seen in Fig. 1, the wire loop 19 may be wound upon the reel portion of the shaft to thereby tighten the entire line structure, the end portions of the clamping strands 3 which are engaged to the lugs 9, tightening around the lugs to grip or bind upon the same, for actively anchoring the clamping strands to the stretching mechanism. The clamping strands being drawn taut, will cause them to more tightly engage the clothes, and the line will also be supported in stretched condition to prevent its sagging, as is the case with the-ordinary clothes line. The shaft 12 is prevented from retrograde movement, by the pawl or dog 14: engaging the ratchet wheel 13, it being evident that when the line is taken down, the pawl or dog 14: may be readily released so as to permit the wire loop 19 to unwind from the shaft or reel 12.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing, the advantages and salient features of the present invention will be obvious to those versed in the art, it being noted that the said structure provides a satisfactory one to the ends for which it is intended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 2- 1. A stretching me -hanism including a shank having a fork at one end and series of lugs along its edges, and arranged so that he end portions of awire may be wound back and forth over the lugs of the respective series, and a reel carried within the fork.

2. A stretching mechanism including a shank having a fork at one end, a shaft journaled through the arms of the said fork, a flexible loop member having its terminals connected to the central portion of said shaft to be wound thereon, the loop member being insertible over a supporting member,

and means for preventing the retrograde movement of the said shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MORTIMER CAHILL.

Vitnesses C. E. JENNINGS, V. M. CAHILL.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

